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Originally posted by Krypton mmmhuh? If it's a military project, it's using government funds, no? It's been said the US government has spent over 1 trillion dollars on secret weapons systems throughout the decades. That's money you don't get from private enterprise...

and which government employees are developing these super secret projects? that's right, they arent. almost all big projects are outsourced to private firms because they can do it better for cheaper (or so the theory goes).

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN and which government employees are developing these super secret projects? that's right, they arent. almost all big projects are outsourced to private firms because they can do it better for cheaper (or so the theory goes).

I still wouldn't call it a private enterprise. It's contracted labor.

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Originally posted by Krypton I still wouldn't call it a private enterprise. It's contracted labor.

well, asides from the money everything is done by the private contractor. they do the designs, they manufacture them. george calls them up and says "i want a new tank that can fly" and off the bidders go to design a flying tank.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN well, asides from the money everything is done by the private contractor. they do the designs, they manufacture them. george calls them up and says "i want a new tank that can fly" and off the bidders go to design a flying tank.

And who are these "private contractors"? Are they human? Are they driven from selfish means? To think, some actual human, wants to create something to destroy and take away another human being's rights to this planet. All for money??? For something that SOMEONE ELSE tells them is of a certain value. Can't you see anything here?

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Originally posted by toolman667 Can't you see anything here?

yes. that you (more often than not) completely miss the point.

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Originally posted by toolman667 And who are these "private contractors"? Are they human? Are they driven from selfish means? To think, some actual human, wants to create something to destroy and take away another human being's rights to this planet. All for money??? For something that SOMEONE ELSE tells them is of a certain value. Can't you see anything here?

The profit motive of the military-industrial complex?

i'd like to know why the "military industrial complex" has more power over government than microsoft.

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It's called vested interests.

We have High-Fructose Corn Syrup in place of "real sugar" in everything that we consume in America.

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http://www.accidentalhedonist.com/index.php/2006/01/11/why_coke_uses_high_fructose_corn_syrup Why is HFCS so much cheaper than cane sugar? The answer to that question may surprise you. Because the government wants it that way. The Federal Government accomplishes this in two major ways: * Sugar Tariffs * Corn and Sugar Subsidies Add these two variables together, and the result is sweetener made from corn.

So Coke and Pepsi are getting rich off of it, and farmers aren't even growing their full potential of crops, americans are getting fatter, and dumber, not learning the problems. All the while, the big corporations (coke and pepsi, plenty others) lobby more and more for bills in their favor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vested_interest

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN i'd like to know why the "military industrial complex" has more power over government than microsoft.

Simple Answer: Microsoft doesn't profit from wars, they're part of a much smaller industry with much less influence. What's so hard to understand about that?

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"The Greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." -Stephen Hawking
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out for me." -Martin Niemöller

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Originally posted by shaolin_Z Simple Answer: Microsoft doesn't profit from wars, they're part of a much smaller industry with much less influence. What's so hard to understand about that?

Yep. But not really less influence, just different influence. Money is still power.

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Originally posted by toolman667 It's called vested interests. We have High-Fructose Corn Syrup in place of "real sugar" in everything that we consume in America. So Coke and Pepsi are getting rich off of it, and farmers aren't even growing their full potential of crops, americans are getting fatter, and dumber, not learning the problems. All the while, the big corporations (coke and pepsi, plenty others) lobby more and more for bills in their favor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vested_interest

im not an expert by any means on this subject matter, so i hesitate to comment, but im willing to bet the situation is far more complicated than you're suggesting. the tariff/subsidy issue with american farmers is more than just corporate greed, and the farming lobbyists are pretty damn powerful in their own right.

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Originally posted by shaolin_Z Simple Answer: Microsoft doesn't profit from wars, they're part of a much smaller industry with much less influence. What's so hard to understand about that?

i dont understand what your point is? yes, microsoft doesn't profit from wars, so???

also, i hate to break it to everyone, but the "military industrial complex" (haha, i love that catchcry) make plenty of money in "peace time" as well. no really, they do. the US sells so much stuff to its allies its ridiculous. even to peace-loving countries like good ol' australia.

microsoft on the other hand profit during rain, hail or shine, and control the world's computer systems. that's a fair amount of power. yet, they couldn't use that evil corporate power to stay out of court and avoid hefty fines.

im not denying the power and influence of those with money, but its simply not as cut and dried as some of you make out. there are a billion and one interests all vying to be heard in washington (or canberra) and the idea that every successive government is beholden to one group of powerbrokers isnt credible. at least not to me.

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Wow.... just wow...

only you PDD.....
only you can turn a simple tribute thread for MLK into a tin foil hat convention...about the military, Microsoft and

How the FUCK can anyone be this paranoid??

Last edited by LazFX on Jan-22-2008 at 15:54